Anthro Volume 4 Issue 3

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Suffocated by statutes anthromagazine.org 1

ANTHRO

May 2022 Volume 4 Issue 3

Mission Statement The ultimate goal of Anthro Magazine, Paly’s social activism publication, is to create a platform and forum for students to express their opinions and voices. Social activism is bringing issues into the spotlight to spread awareness and create change in society. On this platform, we will promote unity, diversity, and respect. As a publication, we aim to be inclusive but do not tolerate hate speech of the targeting of individuals.

We hope to highlight issues that we see in our community, create a safe place to discuss these issues, and to make sure student voices are heard.

From the Editors Dear Readers, Changes to the Supreme Court, challenges to Roe v. Wade, a surge in anti-LGBTQ laws, the upcoming midterms, and crises like global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic have sparked remarkable activist efforts on and off Palo Alto High School’s campus throughout the past few months. They have also caused unrest and unease for many students and staff members.

In this issue of Anthro Magazine, we are excited to amplify the voices of activists within our community. As a staff, we are also excited to turn much of that unrest and unease into action and to make all voices heard.

During this production cycle, we wanted to share the opinions of our staff and encourage them to share their personal experiences with activist efforts and social justice causes via personal columns. We’re very proud of our staff for sharing such raw, emotional stories and for advocating for causes they care about. Karrie Huang, Maya Mukherjee, and Kat Farrell shared particularly personal stories surrounding their families, culture, discrimination, and more in “Far yet close: Shanghai in lockdown,” “Sorry I don’t own a sari,” and “Debunking myths of having ‘daddy issues.’”

As editors-in-chief, this has been a particularly hectic production cycle, operating on a six-week schedule instead of our usual quarter-long cycle. We’re overwhelmingly grateful for every one of our writers, artists, photographers, editors, and our adviser Paul Kandell for coming together and creating the May issue.

We hope you enjoy Volume 4 Issue 3 of Anthro Magazine.

— Ash Mehta and Maya Mukherjee

Staff Editors-in-Chief Maya Mukherjee Ash Mehta Managing Editor Lauren Wong Design Managing Editor Arati Periyannan Content Editor Karrie Huang Business Manager Evelyn Zhang Staff Writers Madelyn Castro Kat Farrell Saanvi Garg Erin Kim Sandhya Krishnan Olga Muys William Rumelhart Jeffrey Tu Tyler Wong Emily Yun Artists Xiaohan Li Neil Rathi Alison Xiong Adviser Paul Kandell —————————— Connect @anthro.magazine @anthro_magazine issuu.com/anthro.magazine anthromagazine.paly@gmail.com

anthromagazine.org

2 May 2022

IN THIS ISSUE

Rallying for a better earth pg. 14

Curing nurses conditions pg. 15

Suffocated by statutes pg. 10

Our stake in Roe v. Wade pg. 9

A dedicated day of service pg. 18

4

Incubator spotlight

5

Celebration advertisement contract

6

Is Prom FOMO worth it?

8

The Supreme Court under a cloud

9

Our stake in Roe v. Wade

10

Suffocated by statutes

14

Rallying for a better earth

15

Curing nurses’ conditions

16

Unable to vote, unable to look away

17

BeReal: Steps to social transparency online

18

A dedicated day of service

19

Thoughts on Justice Jackson

20

Invisible tribe

22

Crusade against cancer

23

Friend or foe?

24

Debunking myths of having “daddy issues”

26

The SAT discriminates (less)

27

Sorry I don’t own a sari

28

Meet Viktor Hargreeves

29

Heart beats on

30

Far yet close: Shanghai in lockdown

32

Shameless sheriff at the helm

34

Activism around the world

35

Local activism roundup

Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to anthromagazine.paly@ gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Printing & Distribution Anthro is printed by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Palo Alto Parent Teacher Association mails Anthro to every student’s home. All Anthro work is available at anthromagazine.org.

Publication Policy Anthro, a social activism magazine published by students in Palo Alto High School Incubator class, is a designated limited open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. Anthro is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

On the Cover

A drawing of an LGBTQ teenager is weighed down by a roll of paper that reads “Don’t Say Gay.” This represents how LGBTQ youth across the country are suppressed by the anti-LGBTQ laws spreading nationwide. The art is superposed over an image of World Pride 2019 in New York City.

Cover: Arati Periyannan

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INCUBATOR SPOTLIGHT

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alo Alto High School’s Incubator journalism class is currently home to five publications: Anthro Magazine, The Paly Voice, KPLY, [proof], Ink. Anthro Magazine has complied some of the content these publications have produced this quarter to give a taste of what our class has been doing. We encourage you to check out each of these publications out.

[pink.]

This quarter, [proof] and Ink. magazines have come together to produce a special issue: [pink.] Magazine. Showcasing student-produced photography, art work, and writing, this issue is a unique dive into Paly’s creative consciousness. Inside, you can find everything from a summer fashion lookbook to poetry and non-fiction writing. We hope you will enjoy this new venture and all it has to offer.

Cover: Sana Muneyb

The Paly Voice A 24/7 source for Palo Alto High School news.

The Voice strives to incorporate all aspects of student life into its coverage, with an emphasis on timely, reliable and relevant content.

Follow on instagram: @thepalyvoice Follow on twitter: @thepalyvoice

K P LY Paly’s online podcasting publication, dedicated to producing high quality audio stories and audio versions of written articles. Tune in to listen to dozens of podcasts covering everything from cultural analysis to current events and student opinions.

Listen on Soundcloud, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts: KPLY Paly Radio Follow on Instagram: @KPLYPalyRadio

4 May 2022

[proof]

INK.

Editors-in-Chief: Madelyn Castro and Arati Periyannan

Editor-in-Chief: Saanvi Garg

Paly’s fine arts and photography magazine, focused on showcasing student artists and the Bay Area’s artistic community through features artist profiles, photo essays, and a gallery section.

Ink is a literary magazine dedicated to student expression. Our central mission is to create a platform for diverse student voices.

We believe reading and sharing writing is vital to the writerly experience.

Submit your photography or art proof.paly@gmail.com

Submit your writing literarymagazineink@gmail. com

anthromagazine.org 5

EDITORIAL

Is Prom FO

Social pressure to attend prom exacerbated by higher ticket prices

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rom. A once (or twice) in a lifetime opportunity to fulfill your glamorous childhood fantasy. The cost? A few hundred dollars to find the perfect outfit, accessories, shoes, another hundred-fifty to buy tickets, and yet another hundred to get professionally done hair and makeup.

Sure, you could thrift a dress or do your own hair. Or, you could choose to save this large sum of money by simply not going, but is it worth the extreme FOMO you’ll probably feel from scrolling through hundreds of social media posts the day after?

Pricing and Costs This year, the cost of tickets for prom at Palo Alto High School reached a new high of $155 (without ASB card) and of $139 (with ASB card).

According to ASB Adviser Steven Gallagher, the increase in the cost can be attributed to the higher cost of services such as catering

6 May 2022

and security post-COVID as well as infla- but they require students to talk to their tion. “From what I understand they range guidance counselor before approval. from anywhere from “It's a lot of pri$120 to $150,” Galvate information,” “From what I understand Gallagher said. “If lagher said. “That's what I've been told. they range from anywhere you think it applies I went back into reyou — you're havfrom $120 to $150. That’s to cords to look, and ing some financial they don't have them what I’ve been told. I went difficulty — you see in the database that your counselor.” back into records to look, we use.”

In addition to Compared to and they don’t have them buying tickets, the other high schools expensive cost of in the Bay Area, in the database that we getting ready for prom can become a use.” significant financial — STEVEN GALLAGHER, ASB Adviser burden for students, especially those who Paly’s ticket costs come from low-income families. are among the most expensive, with Social Pressure schools such Not attending prom to save money may as Gunn High be a financially smart decision for students, School setting but the social pressure to attend often makes their non-dis- it an unappealing one. counted prices With conversations among students at $120 and both leading up to the night and after being Los Altos clouded by the topic of prom, what people High School are wearing, and who’s going with whom, it at $90. Gal- can be hard to escape the pressure to attend. lagher said Because prom is revered as a rite of the much passage for high schoolers, many students higher price want to attend. This can create a bandwagof Paly’s on effect, a social phenomenon that explains tickets is large- the feeling of doing something just because ly due to the venue: others are too. the Exploratorium.

With most of their peers attending, “Exploratorium students who may not want to attend prom is the most expensive can feel an overwhelming sense of FOMO venue, and by the time (fear of missing out) if they don’t attend. But I took over, it was the this pressure doesn’t come from peers alone. only venue that we Children grow up surrounded by pop culcould get for this date ture and movies portraying prom as a ‘night May 14th,” Gallagher to remember.’ Many popular movies like said.

Mean Girls, She’s All That, and 10 Things Scholarships are I Hate About You, depict prom as the beavailable for students all-end-all event and rite of passage of high

Art by XIAOHAN LI

MO worth it? school.

What we see in the media and in the people around us when we are younger have an influence in our decisions years later. In our adolescent years, our brains are still developing. When we are told prom is a night we can’t miss, we can internalize it.

With the image of high schoolers dressed in fancy attire with glamorous hair driving to prom in a sleek limousine or a party bus, students feel the pressure not only to attend prom but also to spend their money on attire, hair, and makeup. Some students buy $60 outfits whereas others drop over $500 for the perfect outfit.

While prom should just be a time to have fun with your friends, it has become an event that draws the line between the “inner circle” of the elite, best dressed and everyone else. It can leave those who don’t attend prom feeling ostracized.

as if only 700 students were to attend. They expect to have a net expense of zero after selling 700 regular priced tickets.

However, in past years (prior to COVID-19), they have always surpassed this number by a significant amount. The extra funding from the tickets is partially used to pay for the expenses of the additional students, but it also results in left over funds — profit.

Due to changes that can come up after planning, there will most likely be some form of overflow profit. This profit should be put into the fol-

Fixing the Problem To help relieve the financial pressure and stress from students, there are practices that can be implemented to reduce the cost of prom. ASB should have booked the venue earlier in the year or in spring of the prior year to ensure that they aren’t trapped between choosing the most expensive venues when the time comes. “[ASB] goes based on a minimum of 700 [students],” Gallagher said.

When having to plan for such a large group of students, “[The] Exploratorium is the number of po- the most expensive ven- lowing year's prom tential venues that budget to help lower can hold a group ue, and by the time I took the overall price of that large are limtickets for stuover, it was the only venue those ited, some years as dents. low as six locations.

ASB has a duty that we could get for this M o r e o v e r, to the student body prom shouldn’t be date May 14th.” that they serve to — STEVEN GALLAGHER, ASB Adviser organize an event run as a for-profit event. During their without also trying planning process, ASB looks at the budget to earn a profit — it complicates prices and

feels like an involuntary donation on the students’ part. However, if they put the profits into the next year's prom, it will create a cycle and help to lower the overall cost of tickets.

This can also have the effect of lessening the FOMO. Despite the glorified image of prom that is pushed through social media and pop culture, students should not allow the fear of missing out on one night of socializing to force them into attending prom.

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OPINION

Text by WILLIAM RUMELHART Art by XIAOHAN LI

The Supreme Court under a cloud

Future of court imperiled by leak and prospect of televised hearings

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n May 2, the first draft of a Unlike Congress, the Supreme Court Supreme Court opinion which does not televise its proceedings. There are would audio recordings of overoral arguments, but turn Roe v. Wade “We should endeavor to the judges also conleaked to Politico, preserve the institution’s in- sider written briefs an extraordinary and confer with breach that punc- tegrity — preemptive leak- each other. tured the shroud of ing, incendiary coverage, One need only secrecy ordinarily look across town to televised spectacles the House and Sensurrounding the and court. This secrecy ate to see the deletewould further weaken it.” has also been atrious effect of teletacked by those vising proceedings, Much attention has rightfully been with political grandstanding for 30-second paid to the substance and implications of clips on the evening news. Unfortunately, the opinion. If adopted, the draft by con- performative outrage will draw more pubservative Justice Samuel Alito would upend nearly 50 years of Supreme Court precedent enshrining abortion access as a constitutional right. The blatant partisanship and radicalism of the opinion alone threaten the durability and integrity of the court.

However, there is also a subtler, quieter, threat posed by this type of leaking and the broader push for more transparency: accelerating the transformation of the Supreme Court from a serious deliberative body into a political theater swayed by public sentiment, informed — or misinformed — by the media.

This call for openness is most often in the form of advocacy for cameras in the Supreme Court.

Newly-confirmed Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson was asked about her n on cameras in tehview on cameras in the court; like many judicial nominees before her, she equivocated.

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licity than dry legislative hearings.

Of course, there are also certain benefits to having cameras in Congress: the potential to draw attention to certain issues and at least a degree of transparency.

But the Supreme Court is a different institution that would not benefit from this sort of transparency. It does not — or should not — operate as a forum for getting attention, scoring political points, or fundraising.

Rather, the nine justices are tasked with interpreting the Constitution based on the text and the cases before them.

This is a formidable task, and what they decide determines our rights and civil liberties.

Thus, this sort of explosive leaking in the middle of the Supreme Court’s decision-making risks tainting the court’s judicial process with public pressure that could influence the final opinion.

The historic discretion of the court notionally allows it to operate outside of the political fray.

Judges wear black robes to symbolize that justice is blind; only the law should matter. The Supreme Court has been moving further away from this ideal toward cynical partisanship, as exemplified by this recent draft opinion.

The effort should be to preserve the institution’s integrity — preemptive leaking and televised spectacles would further weaken it.

EDITORIAL

Art by POLINA VAN HULSEN

Our stake in Roe v. Wade If abortion rights are overturned, youth will be the ones hurt

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s high schoolers come of age and begin to consider post-high-school plans, they think about colleges, internships, jobs — opportunities. One factor that does not play into our decision is access to abortions. Soon, though, that could change.

On May 2, Politico published a leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, on the case Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This is a case challenging the constitutionality of a Mississippi law restricting abortions after 15 weeks into the gestational period.

This ruling would overturn the nearly 50-year-old decision of Roe v. Wade, which protects the right to abortion, and 1992 case Planned Parenhood v. Casey, which restricts laws imposing “undue burden” on someone seeking an abortion.

Although this ruling has not yet been officially decided or gone into effect, 26 states would almost immediately block access to abortions if it did go into effect, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

As high schoolers, the news of the draft opinion hit us especially hard. Roe v. Wade was decided 30 years before were born — to us, although abortion has always been a subject of discussion, it’s also always been a guarantee.

We do live in California, a state with no realistic chance of banning or restricting abortion access, according to the Sacramento Bee. However, we’re watching with horror, and, for those of us who plan to move out of state after high school, with fear.

First of all, teens are the most likely to become unintentionally pregnant, as 77% of teen pregnancies are unplanned, according to Healthline. This is in part due to the lack of comprehensive sex education, and the lack of access to contraceptives.

Teens already have less access to abortion. They are likely to rec-

ognize they are pregnant later than older such a young age, mothers aged 15-19 face women, and many states have restricted twice the rate of postpartum depression as abortions past a cut-off date earlier than women over the age of 25, according to when many teens may realize. In fact, Healthline. Taken in tandem with the fact there’s no guaranthat most teens tee that any women “Whether it’s attending with unwanted will recognize they pregnancies are are pregnant by the college, getting a job, get- already in the decut-off date in some ting married, or just living mographics most states. at risk for mental Getting to an our lives, we deserve the health disorders, abortion clinic also the right right to follow our plans denying requires transporto abortion cleartation and financial without the disruption of ly is detrimental. resources, which Outcomes teens are far less an unwanted pregnancy.” for children born likely to have. to teen mothers Thirty-seven states require parental tend to be worse, studies show. Not only consent for a teenager to get an abortion that, but outcomes for children born to as well — restrictions that already prevent mothers denied abortions tend to be worse many teenagers from accessing abortions, as well. Put together, it’s clear that the outand will likely only become more severe comes for children born to teen mothers when Roe is lifted. denied abortions would not be so great Most of us teens have plans for our either. lives. Whether it’s attending college, getBanning or restricting abortion tramting a job, getting married, or just living ples on the rights of all women. But as our lives, we deserve the right to follow teenagers, we face the harsh reality that our plans without the disruption of an un- it is going to be impacting our generation wanted pregnancy. the most, as we grow into a world without Teens who are prevented from having the protections of Roe v. Wade. an abortion also often have mental health If Roe is overturned, we teenagers consequences. Besides dealing with the are going to watch the basic foundation social stigma of carry- of rights we’ve always known crumble. As ing out a pregnancy at we begin to choose our post-high school plans, to consider options that should provide us with the opportunity to achieve our dreams, the ability to access abortion should not need to be a factor.

As the young generation, and in a state as protected as California, it’s easy for us to feel useless at solving the impending problem.

At this point, it’s probably true that there’s not much we can do.

Now, the responsibility falls to lawmakers who must make decisions in the interest of preserving our rights. Hear the voice of the next generation — protect these rights.

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Suffocated Queer teens watch as their rights are stripped away across the nation

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recognizable by name — the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” bill being a particularly well-known one. Other notable efforts include Texas Governor Greg Abbot’s labeling of gender-affirming care as child abuse, nationwide targeting against transgender athletes, Texas’s banning of LGBTQ-related books, and much more.

California in particular has been relatively immune to this trend so far, among other states such as Oregon, New York, and Montana, but still, Palo Alto High School’s LGBTQ teens watch these bills from afar with a sense of helplessness.

new Louisiana law prohibits transgender women from competing in K-12 and college women’s sports.

A new Tennessee law allows teachers to not use their students’ preferred pronouns.

A new Arizona law punishes teachers for protecting student confidentiality Trans athletics These laws have particular targeted around certain issues, like a student comtransgender stuing out as queer and not wanting “It’s sad to see people put dent athletes in states like Arkanto tell their parup this facade that it’s to sas, Michigan, ents.

A new Flor- protect ‘women and girls’ Missouri, Louisiana, and more. ida law restricts c o n v e r s a - when it’s really just harm- Nonbinary Paly athletes Mars tion around ing young athletes.”

Bau and NaL G B T Q topics in the — NATHANIEL IBUYAN, nonbinary Paly thaniel Ibuyan athlete (both use they/ classroom. them pronouns) This constant stream of legislation spoke to Anthro Magazine about their may seem like white noise thoughts on the targeting of transgender to much of America, but athletes.

Ibuyan said they believe a lot of to LGBTQ community, it serves as a reminder of people who are against transgender athoverwhelming efforts to letes playing on their preferred teams are disguising discrimination as fairness. dismantle rights.

“It’s really about control and disNearly 240 anti-LGBTQ laws were crimination,” Ibuyan said. “It’s sad to introduced in the see people put up this facade that it’s to United States in the protect ‘women and girls’ when it’s really first three months just harming young athletes.”

Though Ibuyan said the wave of of 2022 alone, according to laws has been upsetting, they said tarNBC, a stark geting of transgender athletes has been increase from happening for a while.

“I think that the laws banning trans the 41 in 2018.

Some are athletes isn’t unprecedented at all,” Ibuy-

10 May 2022

Text by ASH MEHTA and additional reporting by ERIN KIM

by statutes an said. “I’m of course upset, but not sur- everyone else’s, but it’s something that you prised.” accept and something that you deal with,” Bau said they don’t understand why they said. “And so you’re already dealing transgender athwith these struggles, letes’ freedom to and you accept that play on their pre- “You accept that you’re you’re dealing with ferred team is be- dealing with these strug- these struggles, but ing taken away, esthen to have outpecially given that gles, but then to have out- side people make it transgender people it’s just like, side people make it hard- harder, already face a high why? Why would baseline level of er, it’s just like, why? Why you do that to me?” struggle due to dysBau plays on would you do that to me?” the girls’ soccer phoria.

— MARS BAU, nonbinary Paly athlete team because, they “The deck of cards you’re given said, when given [as a transgender person] is not equal to the choice between the women’s or men’s

team, they feel more comfortable with the one they’ve played on for most of their life.

However, they said that transgender athletes should have the freedom to do what makes them happy.

“I don’t understand the point of denying trans people the right to do something they want or do something they enjoy, especially just because they’re people too, they deserve to have the freedom anyone has,” Bau said.

Librarian Sima Thomas holds a copy of “Red. White and Royal Blue,” an LGBTQ novel.

Thomas said she’s been troubled by this wave of anti-LGBTQ laws. “I feel like the people writing this law have this … attitude of like, oh, well, we’re just going to cover our ears and shut our mouths and no one will be gay,” she said.

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Bau said that because they have a sup- soning for banning LGBTQ curriculum and “All three of my children identify as portive community, they don’t have to face books is flawed, and doesn’t actually accom- LGBTQ ,” Hubenthal said. “I’ve got a child as much discrimination in athletics and ar- plish its goals. that’s non-binary. And so I find all this stuff en’t as aware of other transgender athletes’ “I feel like the people writing this law very upsetting. So yeah, I think all these laws struggles. have this … attitude of like, ‘Oh, well, we’re attacking people’s identities are just horrible “I live kind of in a bubble, right?” just going to cover our ears and shut our … The way they [people] are should not be Bau said. “Because we live in a progressive mouths and no one will be gay,’” she said. legislated.” area. So I think a “And it’s like, well, Alyssa Bond, another Living Skills lot of times I’m just wouldn’t that be sad, teacher, spoke to the value of LGBTQ curnot as aware of the “It’s just like, oh, if you nev- first of all, because riculum in her classes. struggles that othof the ways that “I think incorporating LGBTQ curer show a child who’s ques- all er trans athletes go we exist are beau- riculum into the high school level allows for through.” tioning their gender, ques- tiful and valid and more representation and a more honest reHowever, when contribute to a bet- flection of our school population, climate, they do experience tioning their sexuality, a ter whole as a group. and demographics,” she said. “Students of that discrimination, book about someone who’s But it’s just so, I every identity deserve quality and accurate Bau said they tend to mean, on some level, information they can use to make healthy turn to mentor fig- doing that, then ... they’ll it’s just so dumb. It’s decisions for themselves and potential partures, like their sports just remain straight and cis just like, oh, if you ners.” coach, who Bau says never show a child is LGBTQ. Bau also … that’s not reality.” who’s questioning Hope said that they turn to An article by the Psychiatric Times — SIMA THOMAS, librarian their gender, questheir community. tioning their sexu- writes that two-thirds of surveyed LGBTQ “It [awareness ality, a book about youth claim discussion over anti-LGBTQ of anti-LGBTQ laws] comes up some- someone who’s doing that, then they won’t state bills has negatively impacted their times,” they said. “And then … that’s one ever follow through with it, and they’ll just mental health. of the times you just turn to the people who remain straight and cis … that’s not reality” “Their experiences of marginalization, you feel like understand, which again would Living Skills, and sex education in par- discrimination, and peer and family rejecbe, like, my mentor figures or my friends.” ticular, is a subject that threatens to be es- tion serve as significant factors for increased pecially affected. Paly Living Skills teacher suicidality and mental health symptomBooks and education Joanna Hubenthal said that she’s concerned atology—which is the epitome of minority Education and literature has been about the mental health issues that come stress theory,” the article wrote. another area under attack recently, with along with seeing Bau and Ibuybanned books lists piling up, “Don’t Say anti-LGBTQ laws an’s stress over wit“LGBTQ youth and adults nessing their rights Gay” bills being introduced all around the increase. country, and lists of hundreds of banned “ L G B T Q taken away in everywhere are affected being words relating to inclusive sex education, youth and adults evother states, HubenLGBTQ identities, gender, sexism, and in- erywhere are affect- when their identities are thal’s distress about tersectionality. ed when their idenher own children, Paly librarian Sima Thomas said that tities are legislated,” legislated. So the mental Thomas’s disquiet she finds the laws against queer curricu- Hubenthal said. “So health issues that come at the censorship lum and literature in schools troubling, as the mental health and lack of proper that anxiety are education — it’s not she sees much value in LGBTQ and non- issues that come from LGBTQ students seeing queer representa- from that anxiety huge.” unique. tion. are huge and that’s At the same — JOANNA HUBENTHAL, Paly Living time, though, pro“Through all of our sections in the super troubling.”

Skills teacher tections, rights, and library, we have books that reflect differIt’s difficult for ent identities, different sexualities, different queer people to not nondiscrimination genders, and that’s very important to me,” see themselves reflected in their own curric- bills are also being introduced.

Thomas said. ulum, Hubenthal said.

A new Nebraska law prohibits discrimThomas said she makes a conscious ef“It’s really important for other people ination in public accomodations based on fort to include diversity in the Paly library, to understand that people exist as they are sexuality and gender identity. and to listen to the voices of queer students and it’s no big deal and they deserve love A new Georgia law prohibits the gay in terms of what literature they feel reflects and respect just like everybody else does, and trans panic defense. them. and that there are resources that are availA new California law designates the “It’s one of my favorite parts of my able to them,” she said. state as a safe haven for transgender kids job,” Thomas said. “I love it. I love buying Hubenthal said she’s felt especially and their families. books and I especially love curating a di- upset by the increase in volume of anWorld Pride 2019. Attendees hold rainbow pride verse reading list.” ti-LGBTQ laws because of her kids belong- flags and signs in New York City for the fiftieth Thomas said she believes that the rea- ing to the LGBTQ community. anniversary of Stonewall.

12 May 2022

anthromagazine.org 13

Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE, KAT FARRELL and SAANVI GARG

Photo by SAANVI GARG

Rallying for a better Earth Palo Alto community members gather and march on Earth Day

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limate change is not a lie! Do people as a millennial himself. not let our planet die!”

“I’m so moved when I see older generaOver 100 people armed with tions come out,” Rading said, “But we’re the their voices took to the streets of generation that’s left to inherit the Earth.”

Palo Alto last month to vocalize the change Congresswoman Anna Eshoo spoke at the needed to save our planet. beginning of the event, discussing the relePalo Alto community members gathered vance of climate change to Palo Alto. at City Hall on April “I’ve seen it [cli22 to celebrate the mate change] in my 52nd celebration of own congressional Earth Day. The event, district — the CZU March and Rally for fire, 77,000 of my the Earth, consisted constituents, evacuof a series of speakers ees in that fire,” Eshfollowed by a march oo said to the crowd. around downtown “Previous to that fire, Palo Alto to build — AJWANG RADING, congressional there were floods, and awareness for climate now we see on our candidate for District 16 change. coastside that we have The Raging the erosion of the seaGrannies, an activist group of elderly wom- wall, because of sea level rise.” en, and students at Gunn High School co-led Rading and Eshoo both campaigned at the the event. Victoria Tregoing, a member of the event, highlighting the actions they would be Raging Grannies, praised student involvement taking if they took office. in the cause.

“Especially coming up to the pri“It’s civic involvement,” Tregoing said. mary on June 7, we have “We didn’t have opportunities like that too the opportunity to elect new much when we’re younger.” leadership that’ll actually Ajwang Rading, a congressional candi- deliver stuff,” Rading said. date running to represent California’s 18th “We’ve had the same reprecongressional district in the House of Repre- sentative, respectfully, for 30 sentatives, attended the event as well. Rading years — no also commented on the participation of young e n v i r o n -

“I’m so moved when I see older generations come out. But we’re the generation that’s left to inherit the Earth.”

14 May 2022

mental bills.”

Eshoo, however, praised the current actions that the federal government is taking towards fixing climate change.

“We face challenges that are going to require additional action,” Eshoo said. “We passed that action in the House, my friends.

It was in the Build Back Better legislation. It is the single largest sum of money and policies directed to climate change, over half a trillion dollars.”

Attendee Matt Schlagel commented on the importance of finding a community at events such as the Earth Day Rally.

“The most important thing is to recognize that we have a problem, and once you recognize it, to find people who actually care about it that you can build communities around,” Schlagel said. “So I love it that today all of these people who are concerned about climate are out here, and are building communities that we can carry forward.”

Text by TYLER WANG and JEFFREY TU

Photo by TYLER WANG

Curing nurses’ conditions Local union secures renewed contract for better working conditions

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small crowd of nurses in blue uniforms cheer loudly for the honking cars passing by. “Our working conditions are your care conditions,” their signs read.

The past few months have been an especially strenuous time for nurses at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospitals. The nurses secured a new contract for Nurses gather on Welch Road in front of Stanford Hospital to protest for better working conditions. The better conditions after a week of going on Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement, the nursing union, has set out to renegotiate their contracts in favor of more pay, mental health support, and retirement support. Fred Taleghani, a member of strike on May 3.

CRONA’s negotiations team, said that although the issues the union was striking for have existed for a long Nurses from the Committee for Rec- time, COVID-19 made the issues worse. “The pandemic just kind of really exacerbated it [problems] and it ognition of Nursing Achievement planned also highlighted the fourth major issue that we’re dealing with, which is mental health.” the strike after the hospitals were unable to come to agreements on several contracts. Packard Hospital are running at two-thirds hours requesting them to come in to work CRONA reported that 93% of about 5,000 capacity — not because of a lack in patients on their days off, which makes it hard to ennurses voted for the strike. or funding — simply because of a lack in joy time away from work,” Stormberg said.

According to Fred Taleghani, a mem- nursing staff.

She added that the improvement of ber of the union’s negotiations team, a PeThe cost of living is driving away po- mental health programs for nurses is an imdiatric Critical Care Transport Nurse for tential recruits, he said, as workers who portant goal they are working toward.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and would normally commute from across the “That [mental health] was brought into the father of a Gunn bay have begun sharp focus for us after the apparent suialumnus, his fami- “We believe our new con- finding work closer cide of Stanford ICU travel nurse Michael ly’s connection to the to where they live.

Odell,” Stormberg said. Nurses reported nursing union made tracts will help to make “ T h e y ’ r e that wait times for mental health counseling the strike important to the nursing profession [nurses are] getting could be between six weeks to two months them. that experience or more, and others reported that therapists “I started in more sustainable.” and then they’re stopped accepting new patients.

— KATHY STROMBERG, president of saying, ‘I might 1999, so I’ve been However, Stormberg said that the new CRONA make a little bit contract that came just a week after their there 23 years and growing,” Taleghani less, I’m not going strike began, was a huge win for the union. said. “My wife also is a CRONA nurse, so to certainly make as much but I don’t have “CRONA achieved gains in every area when we talk about the impacts of a strike, to sit my car for four hours, so maybe I’ll just where we sought improvement,” she said. it did affect our household doubly, basically. get a job in Stockton at one of the hospitals “We believe our new contracts will help to And she started roughly the same time I did there,’” Taleghani said. make the nursing profession more sustainthere.”

CRONA nurses also went on strike able.”

Taleghani said that the biggest issue for better retiree medical plans. According In the future, she said the contracts still that prompted the strike was that staffing at to Taleghani, the hospitals currently cover have room to improve and that the union the hospital suffered since the nurses were medical care for five years after retirement will look to secure better conditions for its discouraged by low wages and tough work- and then require retirees to pay out of pock- nurses. ing conditions. et from then on.

“That [our next focus] includes having “You’re gonna have to work night shift, Kathy Stormberg, president of CRO- input in the revamping of the Employee you’re gonna have to work weekends, you’re NA, said that nurses are burdened with Assistance Program for mental health and gonna have to work holidays,” Taleghani work even on their days off. reviewing staffing at both hospitals,” Stormsaid. He added that two new buildings at “Some nurses receive texts every four berg said.

anthromagazine.org 15

Unable to vote, Unable to look away

Text by ASH MEHTA

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Teen involvement in midterms without casting a ballot

very two years, during election season, politically-engaged teens stare at their screens helplessly, watching numbers tick up. It can often feel difficult to convert political views and a desire for social change into actual action without being able to vote — a frustration many Palo Alto High School students face.

Elizabeth Jensen, a representative of the Palo Alto League of Women Voters, told Anthro Magazine that, even before being able to vote, there are many ways for teens to get involved. “ [ Te e n s can help by] getting the word out, magazines, newspapers,

16 May 2022

social media, [and] spreading the word in elections is a general sense of overabout the election,” Jensen said. “You whelm around the whole election process. don’t have to be 18 to get involved. You For sorting through candidates and can work in a vote center when you’re 16.” elections, Jensen recommends websites Another way for students to get in- like https://votersedge.org, which shows volved in elections information is to join the League about candidates of Women Voters’s “I think they [teens] get a and propositions, Youth Vote Team, their sponbad name for not not car- and a group dedicated sors, values on key to getting young ing, but I think they actu- issues, supporters, people registered to and more. vote through pre- ally do care. But I think we The combisentations and oth- make it difficult for young nation of teenager activities at local ers’ busy lives and high schools, Jensen people to get involved.” a lack of knowlsaid.

— ELIZABETH JENSEN, Representative edge about how to “We have of Palo Alto League of Women Voters get involved also youth in our youth causes students to vote team that are not be able to get helping register students in high schools, as civically engaged as they would like to helping us table at events, doing voter reg- be, said Jensen. istration, voter education, spreading the “I think they [teens] get a bad name word through social media to get out the for not not caring, but I think they actualvote,” Jensen said. ly do care,” Jensen said. “But I think we According to Jensen, one barrier to make it difficult for young people to get teens getting informed about and involved involved.”

Text by SANDHYA KRISHNAN

Art by ALISON XIONG

BeReal: Steps to social transparency online

Amid frequent social media envy, BeReal tries to break the cycle

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unior Carly Chandler receives a notification telling her she has two minutes to snap a picture of her life at its current state.

Amid one of her Youtube binges, Chandler starts to panic. “Do I have enough time to retake this?” she thinks to herself as the seconds tick by. Time is running out and there’s nothing left to hide, so she snaps her computer screen while her cat scurries across her bed. Waiting for the post to upload, Chandler eagerly refreshes her page wondering if she was not the only one caught red-handed in her Youtube rabbit hole. But to her surprise, her scrolling reveals the same for her friends.

BeReal, established in 2020, was created to be a “casual Instagram,” according to the co-founders, Alexis Barreyat and​​ Kévin Perreau.

Recently, the French devel-

oped app gained global popularity after the release of the english version. Currently, it charts sixth on Apple’s app store.

BeReal uses a number of tactics to approach transparency. Each BeReal post involves taking a picture with a front facing camera, and then the back camera right after, to show what’s happening behind-the-scenes. Followers also have access to how many retakes have been taken for each post.

Another aspect of the app is not allowing users to see other people’s posts until they post a BeReal of their own.

This is in an attempt for users to not overthink their own post after looking a t others’.

In addition, BeReal uses a notification system that notifies users all at the same time once a day. Users then have two minutes to post what they are doing, l e av i n g users with minimal time to “fake” anything just for a post. Although BeReal allows users to post after this window, posts will get labeled as “late”.

At Palo Alto High School, BeReal is growing popular among students who want to share small bits of their daily life with friends.

“I downloaded BeReal because of the new take it had on social media,” Chandler said. “It felt different compared to Instagram, but still kept the same concept of sharing photos.”

In addition to increasing engagement

between students, BeReal has also impacted certain pressures about posting on social media.

“In my experience, I think it has improved the Paly community because you are interacting with people that you wouldn’t normally interact with on a daily basis, but you are seeing their lives,” Chandler said. “You kind of feel closer to them even if you wouldn’t talk that much in real life.”

“I’d say it’s taken away some of the pressure. For example, I almost never post on Instagram because I feel like it’s too formal,” junior Jonathan Wang said.

“However, I upload pictures to BeReal of me looking terrible all the time, but I don’t really mind since that’s kind of the premise of the app,” Although BeReal may have a sense of casualty, some may believe that there are still gaps to how transparent a user can really be.

“Personally, BeReal hasn’t really personally impacted the way I view social media,” Wang said. “It’s mostly different because you can’t choose when you post, and you can’t add fancy filters.”

Chandler also agreed how BeReal has not really changed her outlook on social media.

“I think social media is kind of fake, and BeReal can definitely still be fake, because people will do it at different times or when they are in a fun moment to make their lives seem better,” Chandler said.

Both Wang and Chandler said they would overall recommend BeReal as a fun app to use with friends and other Paly students.

“It [BeReal] has also made me feel more comfortable about sharing my life since everyone else is showing the same thing, that is not necessarily more interesting than mine,” Chandler said.

anthromagazine.org 17

Text by SANDHYA KRISHNAN

Photo by MADELYN CASTRO

A dedicated day of service The “service above self ” team returns for the first inperson Paly Service Day in three years

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t 8:30 a.m, 100 students gather around the Haymarket Theater in anticipation.

Buses fill the parking lot while students queue in the courtyard, waiting for their free breakfast. This is all the start of Palo Alto High School’s annual Service Day. Paly Service Day allows students across all grades to participate in comFreshmen, part of Palo Alto High School’s TEAM program, are shoveling excess weeds at Gamble munity service projects both on and off Gardens as part of Paly Service Day. Paly Service Day is an annual event where students are able to campus, and gives the opportunities to participate in community service, but has been canceled for the past two years due to COVID-19. “This earn community service hours. year’s Service Day was a lot more different because it was finally in person,” YCS-Interact co-president “This year we had five off-campus Simona Yau-Chan said. sites, four of which were in Palo Alto and one in San Mateo,” junior and Paly projects at school and contribute to an or- taria said.

“I got to know more people better YCS-Interact club co-president, Simona ganization.

“This year we made blankets for dogs because I was on a bus with no one else Yau-Chan said. “We wanted to give students the option to choose their off-cam- and other pets to give to the Palo Alto that I previously was close friends with,” Humane Soci- freshman and TEAM student Nithila pus site based on the ety,” junior and Subramanian added. type of community Both Kataria and Subramanian said service they wanted “ I ’m actually really sat- Paly Service Club co-president Ajin they would definitely attend Paly Service to do.” isfied, especially because Jeong said. “I was Day again in the following years.

The projects For the future, Paly’s YCS-Interact off campus ranged our whole entire leader- really impressed from local work like ship board were all really by the amount of Club hopes to incorporate more schoolblankets we were wide service events. gardening, to packable to make. It “I’m actually really satisfied, espeaging care items for new to this.” was way more cially because our whole entire leadership homeless shelters.

— SIMONA YAU-CHAN, Paly YCS-Inthan I had ex- board were all really new to this,” YauBoth Paly Serteract co-president pected.”

Chan said. “It was all really unknown to vice Club and Paly In addition, us because we had not had the experience Key club are community-service-based clubs, who publicize participation in Paly Service Day for both of an in-person day from the past years.”

“I think for next year, I think we opportunities for students. They worked on or off campus became mandatory for alongside Paly YCS-Interact to help create freshmen who are part of Paly’s “​​Togeth- should get more involvement for on-camon campus service opportunities for stu- er Everyone Achieves More” program, or pus activities,” Yau-Chan said. “Asking a TEAM. few teachers if they wanted to do service dents who did not wish to leave campus.

“I definitely have a lot of sympathy projects during their class time, and just While some students ventured to off-campus activities, on-campus students for people who have to do this everyday,” having way more students participate were able to still participate in service freshman and TEAM student Aavriti Ka- would be a really good start.”

18 May 2022

Reporting by EVELYN ZHANG and MAYA MUKHERJEE

Photos by MAYA MUKHERJEE

Thoughts on Justice Jackson Student, staff opinions on new Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson “I think it was definitely long overdue and I haven’t done a lot of research on her views but assuming she was appointed by Biden, I’m gonna go with she’s probably pretty liberal. I think it’s definitely needed on the bench, especially now that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is no longer there. I think we’ve seen, it’s slightly leaning right, so I think it was definitely time for someone to fill more seats on the left end of the spectrum.”

— NATALIA COSSIO, senior

“I think she has a really interesting background as a public defender, which is unusual for the Supreme Court and exciting, and I’m curious to see how she’ll be able to shape it in the years to come. I feel like she’s facing an uphill battle, as all liberals are on the court right now, so once the tides turn on the court, and it’s a little more even, I think we’re going to see what she’s made of, which is exciting.”

— CAITLIN DREWES, history teacher

“I think that it’s great to have the first African American woman on the Senate because it shows the progress that we have made as a country in terms of diversity among the court system. I support her as she is a very qualified woman. She rose through the court system starting in private practice, continued through the Circuit courts, and now being appointed to the Supreme Court.”

— ADITYA ROMFH, freshman “I think it’s definitely a step forward in the right direction that this country and politically that we just need. Even just need to see, because I think it’s just like, being the first step to greater forward movement. Like, for people to see that, it will spark new similar things.”

— OWEN RICE, senior

“I’m super excited that she’s nominated and brought in, and I think it’s great representation that finally we have a Black woman in the Supreme Court.

And I think that’s going to be really big for young girls growing up, because they finally have someone to look to as a role model.”

— ISABELLA OTTESON, senior

Art by ALISON XIONG

anthromagazine.org 19

Invisible Local Muwekma Ohlone’s fight for federal recognition

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undreds of years ago, the Ohlone tribe walked the very land that became Palo Alto High School. Traces of tribal history linger in the area, such as in Ohlone Elementary School’s name, or the Palo Alto third-grade curriculum. Nonetheless, the Muwekma Ohlone tribe, which is still in the area with 600 living members, is not yet federally recognized — but new legislation could change that.

The Muwekma tribe, which has resided in the Bay Area for 12,000 years, is fighting to be recognized as a tribe by the federal government.

Armed with DNA evidence and records of past censuses, their fight can pave the way for other indigenous tribes. The tribe is urging the passing of the California Senate Joint Resolution 13, introduced March 17, which would establish them as a federally recognized tribe. This would make the tribe eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Recent DNA research serves as one of their primary means of evidence.

According to the tribe’s

ethnohistorian (a person who studies in- elected officials within the liberal Demodigenous and non-Western cultures) Alan crats or the conservative Republicans, [is Levanthal, the that] they will not DNA of current support tribes.” tribe members has “They’re here for 12,000 The history of been matched with years, they owned all of disrespectful treatDNA found in buriment towards Naals from over 6,000 California, they were paid tive American tribes years ago in certain pennies for the theft of dates back to when parts of the Bay European colonizers their land.”

Area. first arrived. Prior Levanthal cited — ALAN LEVANTHAL, Muwekma to when the Spanish the records of the Ohlone tribal ethnohistorian arrived in America, tribe on past centhere were about suses and in Native 1.5 million Native American boarding schools as a reason why Americans — this number was quickly the tribe has a case for being recognized. reduced to fewer than 20,000. As for the Although the tribe received confirmation Muwekma tribe, there were about 30,000 members prior to European contact. Only 62 people remained.

The harsh policies towards Native Americans persisted as European settlers moved westward in the 20th century.

“By the 1850s, because of the Spanish and the Mexican and then the United States, the policy wasn’t reservation,” Palo Alto High School history teacher Eric that they had once been feder- Bloom said. “The policy really was eliminaally recognized and Congress tion.” had never terminated them, The elimination of tribe members via Levanthal said, this was not disease, starvation, and conflict is one reaenough to have a lasting son for the Muwekma’s struggle with beeffect. coming recognized, Bloom speculated.

“In 2002, the “It’s hard to prove that you are a real Bureau said ‘yes, tribe if most of the people who were in your the tribe is a historic tribe have been killed generations ago, and tribe, yes the tribe was then people were hiding the fact that they never terminated and were indigenous because you didn’t want to previously recognized,’ deal with racism around,” Bloom said. but they recommended Land has also been wrongfully takthat Congress put togeth- en from the Muwekma tribe, according er legislation to re-recognize to Levanthal. In 1971, the tribe reached a the tribe,” Levanthal said. settlement with the California government “And the problem is that our in which tribe members received financial

Art by LAUREN WONG

20 May 2022

tribe

Text by EVELYN ZHANG and MAYA MUKHERJEE

compensation for their loss of land. educate them when they refuse to be “The government basically said, educated?”

‘We stole the land from you, because Now, with the introduction of the you’re Indians, you can’t own land. Senate joint resolution and a change.

We will make org petition, you rich. Here more attenis $668 as com- “It’s hard to prove that tion is being pensation for you are a real tribe if most brought to the the theft of the cause. entire state of of the people who were in “All of C a l i fo r n i a , ’ ” your tribe have been killed the sudden, Levanthal said. the mytholD e s p i t e generations ago, and then ogies that the rich histopeople have people were hiding the perpetrated ry between the tribe and the fact that they were indig- and perpetg ov e r n m e n t , uated are there tends to enous because you didn’t now being be very little want to deal with racism s h a t t e r e d awareness of by someNative Amer- around.” thing called — ERIC BLOOM, Paly history teacher the truth,” ican struggles, including the Levanthal Muwkema’s current fight. said.

“Historians have a tendency to As more people become aware write only about the dominant culture, of the Muwekma’s fight, they have the dominant society, and the Native the ability to provide hope for other Americans are only mentioned in pass- tribes who have faced mistreatment. ing,” Levanthal said.

“They’re re-evaluating ‘what does Levanthal also said that the tribe’s it mean to be a tribe?’” Bloom said. activism was met with negative reac- “They’ll be able to have that as a temtions from the public. plate for other California tribes that “They’re very much alive, they have had those same struggles.” were never fully extinct, they were just Despite the tribe’s extensive evimarginalized and disenfranchised,” he dence, Levanthal said they are consaid. “And when they came out with tinuously treated dismissively, like their identification, the fact that they “refugees within their own homewere the aboriginal tribe of the Bay land.” area, they were viewed with contempt They’re here for 12,000 years, and with suspect by various elements they owned all of California, they of the dominant society. So, how do were paid pennies for the theft of their you convince a society as large as the land,” Levanthal said. “And they’re Bay Area, with all the municipalities, still struggling to be reaffirmed as a the cities, the counties — how do you federally recognized tribe.”

Art by ALISON XIONG

anthromagazine.org 21

Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE

Photo by ANUSHE IRANI

Crusade against cancer Student-led team funds a cure for leukemia and lymphoma

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hista Irani saw her grandmother and two friends diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma, two forms of blood cancer.

Seeing an opportunity in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual fundraising competition, the Palo Alto High School sophomore rallied a team to email, ask parents and friends, and post on Instagram, raising over $5000.

The Kure-Aid team, composed of high school students and led by Irani and fellow Paly sophomores Zora Wakelee and Hannah Huang, advocates for research on cures for leukemia and lymphoma.

They recently wrapped up their annual fundraising campaign and are planning new projects to raise awareness about cancer and continue to fundraise.

The money raised during the five- Chista Irani, Palo Alto High School sophomore and leader of the Kure-Aid team, works on fundraising month-long campaign will be given to planning. Irani, along with sophomores Zora Wakelee and Hannah Huang, led a five-month fundraising the LLS, a larger organization that fights campaign for a cure for leukemia and lymphoma, two types of blood cancer. “I started it [Kure-Aid] because I had some loved ones that were affected by it,” Irani said. I learned about it last year, and this year, I for a cure to blood diseases. decided to become a leader.”

According to LLS’ website, over 1.5 million people in the United States have next year,” Wakelee said. said. “So I kind of want to do what I can or are in remission from leukemia, lymAfter Irani began the project, to help out in any way I can.” phoma, or a relatWakelee said she Going forward, KureAid wants to ed condition.

“I think we have a lot to also got involved expand their projects past fundraising, acAlthough due to witnessing cording to Irani. the team did not improve on, but it was a what leukemia and It is also aiming to spread awareraise as much good first attempt and I lymphoma pa- ness about the conditions, and plans to money as they tients go through. put informative posters around the Paly hoped, according think we can learn a lot “My mom campus. to Wakelee, it was was a doctor and “Our goals are to raise more monfrom it for next year.” a valuable experiI see that she deals ey for LLS and also raise awareness,” — ZORA WAKELEE, Kure-Aid team ence. with a lot of can- Wakelee said. “Letting people know that leader “I think we cer patients and this organization [LLS] exists and that have a lot to imit’s really heart- they should be looking into it and trying prove on, but it was a good first attempt breaking to see how bad it is and how it af- to help out to fight leukemia and lymphoand I think we can learn a lot from it for fects people and their families,” Wakelee ma.”

22 May 2022

Text by EVELYN ZHANG

Friend

foe?

An interminority relationship complicated by misconceptions

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Black Lives Matter sign was vandalized in the Ventura neighborhood of Palo Alto on April 5 by someone who replaced the word “Black” with “Asian” by taping an adhesive over the original sign.

Cops have deemed it a hate crime. But oddly enough, I wasn’t shocked when I heard the news.

“An Asian being racist to Black people — what’s new?” I thought.

Though there have been many high-profile instances of racist exchanges between Asian Americans and Black Americans in America, that doesn’t justify this subconscious thought.

Without having realized it, I’ve acknowledged the history of anti-Blackness within Asian communities and I’ve accepted it without a second thought, only to realize that I’ve never stopped to ask the big question: Why? Why are minorities fighting other minorities? Shouldn’t they find solidarity with each other and fight for equality together?

Sociologists have coined this phenomenon as horizontal hostility: when members of a marginalized group enforce systematic oppression against other members of other marginalized groups.

As a result, the power of racial minorities is diluted. According to Dr. An-

Art by VICTORIA LIAO

or

thony C. Ocampo, an associate professor er it be subtle aggressions or blatant bigof sociology at Cal Poly Pomona, “[Racist otry. systems are] meant to relegate us to the I notice changes in language and margins, to keep us in subordinate posi- behavior around when Black people are tions, to keep us out of leadership posi- mentioned versus white people. For examtions, to basically be in a position where we ple, people talk about Black people with a can’t write our own stories in this country.” sense of superiority while they speak only One example of a stereotype that with admiration for white people. perpetuates horizontal hostility is the good Additionally, colorism is rampant ol’ model minority myth. within the Asian American community: According to a study in the Journal A common way to “compliment” someof Association of one is to comment American Medion how beautiful cal Colleges, “the “Without having realized their “pale and fair model minority it, I’ve acknowledged the skin” is. Likewise, myth continues to an “unattractive” pit minority groups history of anti-Blackness feature is being too against each oth- within Asian communities tan. er by reinforcing Though I canthe existing racial and I’ve accepted it with- not claim that my hierarchy while encounters with out a second thought.” disregarding the racism in China complex and multimean all Asians faceted history of oppression that AAPIs have anti-Black sentiment, I can point out have faced.” a pattern that I’ve seen not only in my exAnother example of horizontal hos- periences but also in the experiences of my tility is the how, according to the study Asian friends.

“Hate Crimes against Asian Americans” At the end of the day, I believe we published in the American Journal of have to understand that we as minorities Criminal Justice, an examination of hate are all fighting for the same things. crime data from 1992 to 2014 found that Like Lính Thủy Nguyễn, assistant compared to anti-Black and anti-Latino professor of American Ethnic Studies at hate crimes, a higher proportion of per- the University of Washington, said, the petrators of anti-Asian hate crimes were model minority myth “makes it difficult people of color. to see the damage, not only to other raUnfortunately, as an Asian American, cialized communities, but also to our own I can attest to the anti-Black sentiment families and communities.” within Asian cultures.

It isn’t helpful for minorities to fight When I’ve visited China, I’ve picked each other. Instead, we should fight alongup on racism against Black people, wheth- side each other.

anthromagazine.org 23

Debunking myths of Text by KAT FARRELL

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Tackling stereotypes and addressing the issues fatherless girls face

oogle says fatherless daughters are teen mothers, poverty-stricken youth, substance abusers, promiscuous, insecure, low achievers, inmates, dysfunctional, and depressed.

Could it be possible to define what the National Public Radio says is 39% of students 18 and under in a few words?

Growing up and getting curious about how my father’s absence affected me led me down a rabbit hole. I read what online pages said about children without a father and started to wonder if it was all true.

I knew I didn’t fit those labels, and talking to another high schooler at Palo Alto High School made me realize I wasn’t the only one.

One Paly student told me she spent the first five years of her life with her father in South Africa, until her parents got divorced and her mother moved with her to America in search of a good education. Her father had properties to attend to in Africa, but with a visa, he was able to visit every three months.

That was until COVID-19 hit and travel was limited. She hasn’t seen him since January 2020, and it has taken a toll on her mental health.

Social media has added to the difficulties this source confronts as a fatherless teen, with the growing popularity of the term “daddy issues.”

Daddy issues is used to describe a girl who has a poor or non-existent relationship with her father, and is often glamorized.

“People want to

24 May 2022

make having parental problems a trend and something that’s cool,” this Paly student said. “I think it’s really weird.”

Terms like “daddy issues” create a stereotype that associates negative traits with the absence of a father. This further contributes to the misre presentation of fatherless girls, and diminishes the importance of the real issues these women face.

“When you come back to a home missing half of the two people who literally made you it’s weird,” she said. “It feels unstable; it doesn’t feel good. It feels like you don’t have a home to go to.”

This instability has been a factor in her ability to find healthy relationships.

She says there’s a lot of anxiety and dread that comes with facing a romantic relationship, though that does not take away from her desire to be in one.

“You want that person to be your support system, but since you didn’t really grow up with

Art by LAUREN WONG

a stable support system, you don’t know if that person could be good enough,” she said. “If you need to go to them can they actually be stable and be there for you? It just feels like they can’t.”

Struggling with insecure attachment in relationships with men is common in women who grow up without a present father.

In “Insecure Attachment and Emotional Distress,” published by Sherri L. Turner, from the department of Educational Psychology in Minnesota, and five other researchers, Turner states, “Those who are avoidantly attached often avoid forming relationships with others under the presumption that they will not get their needs met.”

Children who grow up without a father have the ability to flourish. This source says she plans on going to college to major in computer science.

In “Absent Fathers,” a research article published by the British Psychologist Society, Sarah E. Hill states, “Although research suggests that pa-

having “daddy issues” Fast Facts

Children without fathers are four times as likely to experience poverty.

— National Public Radio

Children who are close with their fathers are 75% less likely to give birth as a teenager.

— All4kids.org

Students with involved fathers have a 43% higher chance of earning As. — All4kids.org

More than 25% of children do not live with their fathers.

— US Census Bureau

Art by KATE WU ternal engagement is associated with many desirable outcomes, this does not mean that your children are doomed to a suboptimal developmental trajectory if you are a single mother,” Hill said. “Patterns that emerge when examining data are simply that: patterns. They do not account for the tremendous amount of variability that is observed between individuals within the same circumstances.”

Having a father figure greatly influences the success of an individual, whether that be a teacher or another family member, Hill said.

This source says she’s found support in other people.

“You find other alternatives, like my brother,” she said. “You find peace of mind in other people.”

Finding solace in this shared experience has helped me realize that I am not alone in what I go through.

“I feel like I don’t really know my dad sometimes,” the girl with the dad in South Africa said. “It’s a random person and it’s sad to think about that to other people but in my opinion, it’s not really sad because that’s just how it is.”

I have found this to be a great representation of my feelings as well. While many others see having an absent father as a sob story, for a lot of people, myself included, it’s a minute part of everyday life.

There is much more to fatherless teens than “daddy issues,” and recognizing the importance of not representing a diverse group of people with one image is vital.

Resources

Hotline for non-emergency mental health help:

855-845-7415 Hotline for parents in need of help:

855-427-2736 National helpline:

800-662-HELP National suicide prevention hotline:

800-273-8255 anthromagazine.org 25

Text by KARRIE HUANG

The SAT discriminates (less) Compared to the rest of the college application, how does the SAT stack up in equity?

B

ombarded with accusations of racial and socioeconomic discrimination and dropped as a requirement from almost all selective colleges, the Scholastic Aptitude Test now seems to be a dead letter on its way out in college admissions. Yet today some universities are re-implementing standardized testing as a requirement, notably the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Standardized tests are out of style, deemphasized in favor of other parts of the college application process — like extracurriculars, Advanced Placement classes, grade point averages, teacher recommendations, and essays. None are free from reflecting inequality. But the SAT tends to be better than other facets of the college application.

Take extracurriculars: The robotics team, for example, is well organized and competitive at Palo Alto High School. Maybe a school in a less privileged district might have one, but it

26 May 2022

Art by XIAOHAN LI

likely has much less funding and oversight.

Or teacher recommendation letters — at a school where students often ask for recommendation letters (wealthy schools), teachers inherently get more practice writing them. Oftentimes, teachers are also more experienced and qualified at affluent schools. Consequently, the recommendation letters they write are likely better.

As for GPAs, often touted as a better long-term measurement than SAT scores, grade inflation is more prevalent at schools attended by wealthier students than at schools attended by low-income students, according to a study by the Fordham Institute. For students performing at the same level, students at wealthier schools may tend to have higher GPAs. As for availability of AP classes: They’re not offered in every school, and the APs offered vary across school districts.

That’s why colleges often use school profiles to compare students at the same high school. With this disparity between GPAs at different schools, using a school profile essentially pits students against their classmates and not the nation. The SAT is the only way to measure performance on a standard scale.

And strangely, students’ choice of college essay topic like discussions of sports injuries or community involvement, are more closely associated with socioeconomic status than SAT score, a Stanford study finds.

But for the SAT, students who have a free Saturday morning and access to a test center can try it twice, since fee waivers are available (including fees for the Student Answer/Question Answer Service, which gives informa-

tion about incorrect and correct answers given on the test itself). While location and time are still significant barriers to access to standardized testing, they pose a smaller disadvantage as compared to access to AP classes or extracurriculars, which require a much larger initial time commitment and are far harder to access.

So what can disproportionately help affluent students do better at the SAT? Test prep courses are everywhere — anything from group proctored SAT practices to individualized math prep at $160/hr. Can free online Khan Academy compare? When controlling for the fact that students who sign up for test prep are not representative of students as a whole, those who pay for test prep tend to see some improvement in their scores — around 10 to 35 points. And the nationwide score improvement, on average, for taking the SAT a second time is about 40 points. Test prep doesn’t seem to help all that much compared to simply retaking the test (free for those eligible).

Perhaps more subtle is the culture around taking standardized tests. At Paly, test-taking culture can be intense, with yearsahead plans on optimal test dates. Access to and knowledgeability about standardized tests in different schools is hard to measure.

But it’s plausible that test-taking culture is weaker at lower-income schools, in which students take standardized testing at lower rates. However, this isn’t cause for going testblind but for raising awareness of testing at lower-income schools.

Lastly, does going test-optional really improve diversity? A recent study finds that in a sample of 100 schools that went test-optional, the relative frequency of Latino, Black and Native American students only rose by about 1%, according to the Hechinger Report. It’s something, but not much at all.

In the end, the SAT is far from perfect.

But it should be a requirement for college applications until a standardized measure less-reflective of money comes along.

“While location and time are still significant barriers to access to standardized testing, they pose a smaller disadvantage as compared to access to AP classes or extracurriculars.”

Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE

Art by XIAOHAN LI

Sorry I don’t own a sari

Reflecting on my lack of connection to my family’s Bengali culture

I

n the depths of boredom in the these things, almost proud of my lack of COVID-19 lockdown summer 2020, culture. If I don’t know about Indian traI opened Duolingo. It was time — I ditions, it must mean I totally fit in, right? was going to At one point, learn Bengali, my though, I realized grandparents’ na- “As a child, I was raised that there was a tive language. with this without any real concept problem I finally felt — I am Indian, or ready to embrace an of being “Indian.” To this half, at least. When aspect of the culture meet me, day, I couldn’t tell you people I wasn’t immersed that’s one of the in, and I had the what Diwali is celebrating first things that they time to do it. But by learn about me — opening the app, I or how to tie a sari.” it’s obvious. No, it quickly found that hasn’t hugely imthe language was nowhere to be found. I pacted my life, but it’s true, and I think it took to the Internet, which, really, has ev- should matter. erything. But I still found close to nothing.

Frankly, it was embarrassing that when I reeled back from my computer. If my friend asked me if I was worried about the Internet couldn’t help me, who could? the COVID-19 outbreak in India, I had My father doesn’t speak the language, and to tell her I hadn’t really thought of it as my grandparents and I have a language something connected to me. gap that we’ve never quite been able The truth is, I don’t know how to bridge. I was stuck, feeling distant to get that culture back. Bengali from the culture that had been lost in culture is such a specific culture the preceding generation. and language that there just aren’t My dad’s parents immigrated the tools available. to America from India two years Now, I’m left in a difficult before he was born. His parents spot. How do I get any brought their culture along, culture — clothes, lanand formed a community of guage, food, traditions Bengali friends in New York, — back when there’s retaining their traditions the no one to guide me? best they could.

And if I’m not able But, growing up in a nearto, how do I learn to ly all-white New York suburb, be proud of my herimy dad conformed completely. tage anyway?

He chose Billy Joel over BollyTo help guide me wood, and New York style pizthrough these questions, I za over samosas. turned to one of my oldest At 17, he was flying across friends, Shaivi Sanchorawathe country to go to college, la. The two of us met in our leaving any trace of Bengali kindergarten class and grew culture behind. up together, so I’ve always As a child, I was raised known her family and home without any real concept inside and out. of being “Indian.” To Shaivi grew up closely this day, I couldn’t tell you connected to her own Inwhat Diwali is celebrating dian culture, speaking or how to tie a sari.

Gujarati as her first lanI used to feel a cerguage and visiting India tain pride in telling people every year.

“By just being present and being there physically in India, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about my culture throughout my childhood upbringing,” she said. “I had a nanny who only spoke Gujarati and I grew up going to the temple on the weekends. I grew up eating Indian food, and participating in the love of the traditions.”

I’ve always had admiration for Shaivi’s connection to her culture, and her unwavering confidence in expressing it. However, she too has struggled with balancing retaining her culture with being an American teenager, she said.

“I think like living in a place where there’s so many different cultures, it’s really easy to get lost, not only in other cultures, but just lose your own,” Shaivi said.

Still, she said that her cultural connection has helped shape her life by providing her with a stable community she can rely on and relate to in ways she can’t to other people. She gave some advice for reconnecting to lost culture.

“The first step would be to just reach out to family and start to rebuild those connections, because those are the connections that are going to connect you back to your culture and your roots and your traditions,” she said.

After talking to Shaivi, I can’t say that I know perfectly what path to follow, but I feel like I have more of a sense of how to approach the problem, and more motivation to do so. Once I’m able to find these reconnections, I’ll not only be more in touch with my family and culture, but my own identity as well.

anthromagazine.org 27

Text by ASH MEHTA and MADELYN CASTRO

Art by ALISON XIONG

Meet Viktor Hargreeves

Historic milestone for transgender actors and LGBTQ community

M

eet Viktor Hargreeves,” wrote actor Elliot Page in an Instagram post around two months ago.

Elliot Page has starred in Netflix’s “Umbrella Academy,” a science-fiction show about a group of estranged, eclectic siblings with superpowers, since 2019. Page plays the character previously known as Vanya Hargreeves, one of the lead characters in the show.

Since Page’s coming out in December 2020, “Umbrella Academy” fans have wondered how the writers are planning on altering Vanya’s character — if at all — to match Page’s identity. Most assumed that, despite Page coming out as a man, he would still have to play a female character.

However, a few months ago, Netflix announced that Page’s character, now known as Viktor Hargreeves, is going to transition alongside Page in season three, an unprecedented milestone for the trans community.

Paly gender studies teacher Jaclyn Edwards said that she is really excited to see the production team of “Umbrella Academy” support Page’s transition in this way.

“Producers, directors, and so forth are also sending a very political message,” Edwards said. “They’re supporting this person, this actor, who has already proven [himself ] and done a great job … Regardless of how they now identify themselves, they’re still supporting them.”

Edwards said that, in the past, a trans actor like Page would have had to go in the opposite direction in order to avoid being “blacklisted” in the film industry. She noted that though there aren’t many historical examples of trans actors, it would mirror the experiences of most queer actors.

28 May 2022

“A lot of times actors and actresses that you can be gender-assigned-female whose sexuality would be bi or gay or lesbi- and then you identify yourself as male or an, they would play like vice versa, that ‘ultra macho’ or ‘ultra “A lot of times actors or there’s still a feminine’ roles to kind chance for you of counter or to deflect actresses whose sexuality to do work, your attention to their sexu- would be bi or gay or lesbi- craft, the things ality so that they could that you’re pasjust keep their job,” Ed- an, they would ... counter sionate about,” wards said. said. or deflect attention to their Edwards Now that such Despite the a popular show like sexuality so they could just recent uptick in “Umbrella Academy” legal pushback keep their job.” is showing so much against trans — JACLYN EDWARDS, Gender Studies rights, Edwards support for Page, Edteacher said she hopes wards said that other closeted trans actors that Hargreeves may feel less scared of losing job opportuni- is an indicator of a positive trend culturally. ties after coming out.

“I’d like to think that the trend will “It’s more of also a message continue,” Edwards said. “And it’s not just this isolated moment of this one person, but that that it continues, which is, I think, a very, very difficult hill to continue to climb because we see so much legislation most recently being passed that is not supportive of transgender communities.”

If this is an indicator of a trend in support of trans actors and trans representation, Edwards said she believes this sort of representation has the potential to shift the public perception of what it means to be trans.

“In order to change the narrative, you have to have that visibility,” Edwards said. “Shows or actors and actresses like Elliot that are coming out is actually a big deal, right. Because it then gives people the sense like, oh, like that’s me.”

Text by KAT FARRELL and SAANVI GARG

Art by ALISON XIONG

Heart beats on

“Heartstopper”: The beautiful new LGBTQ British television show

H

eartstopper. The answer The story follows Charlie Spring (Joe for LGBTQ youth requests Locke) as he falls for popular jock Nick Nelfor teen romance with qual- son (Kit Connor). It depicts the struggles ity representation. The new Spring faces as an openly gay student, as generation now has their show, the perfect well as the contrasting experience of Nelcoming-of-age romanson who is coming to tic comedy featuring “The show broached top- terms with his bisexdifferent LGBTQ reics such as sexual assault, uality.The addition of lationships.

“Heartstopper,” bullying, coming out, and multiple side stories is a teen drama inprovided representaspired by Alice Ose- homophobia in a way that tion for other parts of man’s graphic novel was sensitive while provid- the LGBTQ commuseries of the same nity and enhanced the name which portrays ing insight into the issues.”­ story. The narrative the high school exof Tara Jones (Corinperience from multiple perspectives of the na Brown) and Darcy Olsen (Kizzy Edgell), LGBTQ community. a lesbian couple struggling with the social The show premiered on Netflix on implications of coming out, gave the viewApril 22, and has been received well by all ers a gripping and realistic look into what it audiences, earning a nine out of 10 rating means to be out as a female in high school. on IMDB. The girls showed progression from friends to lovers as they slowly came out to their close friends. One of their best scenes as a couple was dancing together at a party covered in rainbow confetti, unafraid of judgment, showing acceptance of their sexuality from themselves and others.

Spring’s close friends, Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney) and Tao Xu (William Gao), also had their own plot. Elle is a Black transgender woman, who gets closer with Tao as the episodes progress. Their relationship not only provided representation for both the transgender and Black communities, but also reaffirmed that a straight man liking a transgender woman does not change his sexuality, sending a significant message that transgender women are women.

The show broached topics such as sexual assault, bullying, coming out, and homophobia in a way that was sensitive while providing insight into the issues. In the first few episodes Spring is sexually assaulted by

his ex-boyfriend after telling him that he doesn’t want to be together anymore. Serious scenes like this are done remarkably well, and were shot in a way that didn’t glamorize the topic, but still provided space for a sentimental and romantic feeling as the love stories unfolded.

“Heartstopper” leaves the viewer with a warm feeling, with each romantic moment being coupled with special effects that intensified each scene. When little animated sparks would fly when couples touched or stars would sparkle when they looked at each other, it made the moment all the more magical.

It truly is a must-watch that is great for people who love romantic, drama-filled, and inclusive shows. “Heartstopper” provides great insight into the struggles of queer youth and is undoubtedly a staple in the TV-show industry this year.

anthromagazine.org 29

Far yet close:

Reflections on COVID-19 restrictions on my family

30 May 2022

D

on’t you see how China is better these days?” my dad would say, citing high-speed rail, ultra-efficient shipping and low crime over our biweekly video calls over WeChat, the Chinese social networking app. It’d be late at night for me, but in the morning bright and early for him.

I’d concede, and say “Yes, well, China is far more technologically advanced. But what about the obvious things: Uyghur genocide, or constant censorship, or the social tracking system?”

Then it’d be his turn to concede. Such was the refrain, week after week as we tried to stay connected over the last seven years apart. He worked in China, between capital city Beijing and sparkling metropolis Shanghai. Sometimes he’d mention something new, like river cleanup along the Huangpu.

But at one point, sometime around early 2020, the refrain evolved. Initially, I worried about how COVID-19 might infect my dad, how the disease could wreak havoc on my halcyon life. Our debates on the governing systems of my adopted nation and our shared homeland began to shift.

I found myself admiring how China was

Text by KARRIE HUANG Art by ALISON XIONG

Shanghai in lockdown able to save so many from the ravages of the prevent a coronavirus that may have filled icy? What if my dad wasn’t able to get to virus. Did I know about the damaging sup- fewer coffins than despair and restrictions the airport as the city locked down, stuck at pression of free voices? Yes, but those were are. home with an empty the costs of having a unified autocratic govI breathed a “While people in China fridge in anticipation ernment, one that actually had the power sigh of relief, believof leaving? What if and will to control the virus. ing my dad was safe are sacrificing, or being he got sick, and got Could the U.S. government ever be in Beijing, excited to a quarantine required to sacrifice so sent able to get even half the country to do one for him to finally camp? thing? To pop our little bubble of self-inter- move home (bearing much, I couldn’t help but This isn’t the est and care about those with comorbidities gifts from Taobao, a American kind of think about how a third pseudo-lockdown, around us? Apparently not.

Chinese Amazon).

As the virus played out, it was my But this brief of America refuses to get where we can go to Dad’s turn to worry about me. Our family brush with disaster the grocery store, on this side of the Pacific. And it’s largely prompted a thought: vaccinated.” grab Starbucks, even stayed that way. Maybe faded somewhat, as Why wasn’t this covdrive out of state, COVID-19 turned out to be less dangerous ered? Why wasn’t this front page news? It with masks loosely enforced and socialthan expected. was probably even in the American nation- ization frowned upon but still widespread.

T h e n al interest to expose While people in China are sacrificing, or beCOVID-19 inex- “Millions couldn’t find food China’s shortcom- ing required to sacrifice so much, I couldn’t plicably tore back ings in the super- help but think about how a third of America yet food rotted in stores, powers’ struggle for refuses to get vaccinated. I couldn’t help but through China.

But everything dominance. think of how a woman who refused to put in an effort to prevent a global seems so distant Yet COVID-19-in- her mask on after being asked to do so still when it’s not affect- coronavirus that may have China stories rated expected to be served during one of my first ing you. Peobelow the Ethicist on shifts at my job. I couldn’t help but think: ple might be filled fewer coffins than the New York Times How are we so selfish? starving, but despair and restrictions website (a month in, It’s real. The China-style lockdown has they’re not a bigger feature story three tiers. Tier 1: You can’t leave your city your peo- are.” finally arrived). section, but food delivery is still available. ple.

I had to dig for Tier 2: You can’t leave your building. HopeThen it got it. “Do you know?” I asked my friends. Not fully you have food. And Tier 3: You can’t real for me. My one did. step foot outside of your apartment. You dad narrowly esBut still, that was only a vague can’t even barter with your neighbors. caped Shanghai sense of unease, easily forgotten Imagine the infeasibility of this in the a few days before as finals and AP tests crept U.S. In stark contrast, the Chinese have it locked down, closer. health trackers on their phones. It can deny where millions But COVID-19’s claws or allow access to stores. It can demand you couldn’t find advanced on Beijing, the report to a testing center. It can prevent you food yet food rotcity of my childhood, where from getting emergency medical treatment ted in stores, in my dad escaped to and if you haven’t been tested. an efwhere my grandparents Something so unimaginable in Amerifort to live. My grandparents were ca is reality in China. scheduled to move into The world gets real as their nursing home, where never before for me. It they’d be assured of food was Shanghai in lockand safety, but what if down that brought the city had locked down the world to my before they could? What doorstep. happens if they were out in the cold, a casualty of zero-COVID-19 pol-

anthromagazine.org 31

OPINION

Shameless sheriff The outrage of the Santa Clara County Sheriff ’s alleged corruption is matched only by her impunity

essary to ensure true accountability in the County district attorney’s office has been future. investigating these glaring red flags for In December 2019, the Mercury News the last three years. The most signifipublished an article on a series of suspicious cant development in the case may have concealed-carry weapon permits granted come in late 2020 with the criminal by the sheriff’s office indictment of to two Apple execu“It seems that being a fat- Undersheriff tives’ security guards.

Rick Sung These two execu- cat donor is the key to — Smith’s tives — among othtop depuer high-profile indi- unlocking the sheriff’s of- ty — for anta Clara County Sheriff Lau- viduals — promptly fice.” his role in rie Smith has allegedly been operat- received the permits the alleged ing a pay-to-play racket out of the for their security afpay-tosheriff’s office for years — issuing ter contributing $1,000 to Smith’s reelec- play scheme. concealed-carry weapons permits in ex- tion campaign.

To date, he is the highchange for favors and donations — accordThe apparent transactional ease with est-profile individual in the ing to multiple criminal, civil, and journalis- which these permits were granted contrasts sheriff’s office to be criminally tic investigations. sharply with the experience of ordinary charged. His trial is expected to That is only what has been exposed so concealed-carry applicants in Santa Clara begin this year. far. This investigation is still unfolding, but County. Even with stringent state regulaThe county civil grand jury what has ensued already is staggering. tions, the sheriff’s office has given out far findings against Smith are scanFive of her closest deputies have been fewer permits than other counties. dalous. According to a grand jury charged for their role in the From 2014 to report, Smith not only illegally scheme, and Smith herself “Oh, what a harsh 2020, for example, granted concealed weapons permits has been indicted on seven 150 concealed weapon to political donors, but also improperly counts of misconduct and penalty to ride off permits were issued or accepted gifts from high-profile individuals corruption by the Santa into the sunset, pen- renewed in Santa Clara and deliberately lied about them on her fiClara County civil grand County, compared to nancial disclosure forms, among other legal jury. On March 11 — fol- sion in tow.” over 5,000 in much violations. lowing a no-confidence smaller Sacramento One gift was box suite tickets and revote by the Board of SuCounty, according to a freshments for a 2019 San Jose Sharks pervisors — she announced she would not Mercury News analysis of agency records. hockey game — worth more than $500 seek reelection when her term expires in The usual stinginess of the sheriff’s — given to Smith by local insurance 2023. office in handing out permits only deep- executive Harpreet Chadha; this presOh, what a harsh penalty to ride off ens the contrast with those who flash some ent was conspicuously absent from into the sunset, pension in tow! green and seem to receive their permits h e r Given the negligible consequences for straight away. It seems that being a fat-cat this alleged malfeasance, it would seem pru- donor is the key to unlocking the dent to trace the trajectory of this sordid sheriff’s office. tale so far to consider what changes are necThe Santa Clara

S

32 May 2022

Text by WILLIAM RUMELHART

at the helm Art by LAUREN WONG

conflict of interest forms, the grand jury found. In addition to this suspicious gift, Chadha has been criminally accused of bribing Sung for concealed-carry permits.

Despite the conclusions of the grand jury, Smith has yet to face any material consequences. She has rejected all calls for her resignation — including from the mayor of San Jose — and made no apology, simply denying the accusations in court and announcing her retirement at the end of her term next year.

Even though no one is coming to her defense, she has been able to stick around through simple defiance.

In the interim, we are saddled with an apparently corrupt sheriff’s office and no foreseeable recourse.

It seems that much of this failure of accountability can be attributed to the limited powers of civil grand juries.

In the California state court system, the civil grand jury serves an important function in investigating misconduct by public officials and can request

that public officials be removed from office. However, there is no mechanism to ensure their recommendations are enforced and no agency is obligated to follow up on their conclusions.

Sergeant Sean Allen — one of five candidates running to replace Smith — touched upon this issue of enforcing oversight of concealed-carry permits at an April 27 question-and-answer event in the Paly Media Arts Center.

“The current process [for evaluating concealed-carry applications] will only work if you have someone there who’s going to make sure you’re processing everyone’s request the same way,” Allen said.

He vowed to set up civilian police oversight committees with “actual teeth.”

That would be a welcome change.

All in all, this case has made a mockery of law enforcement accountability: Smith continues to serve with impunity as sheriff and collect a taxpayer-funded salary. But this story also provides valuable insight into what we must strive for in the future: a system of oversight willing and able to hold police and other public officials accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

anthromagazine.org 33

Text by KARRIE HUANG

Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN

Activism Ar und the W rld

Wages, the war in Ukraine and climate change: snapshots of protests globally GREAT BRITAIN: Nine scientists from Scientist Rebellion, an international organization of scientists fighting for climate change reform, glued research papers and themselves to the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in protest of the government’s new energy security strategy. It emphasizes fossil fuels, rather than clean-energy alternatives. The scientists were arrested as were other scientists protesting inaction on climate change across Europe and the U.S.

TURKEY: Activists in Istanbul’s Taksim Square protest the conviction of Osman Kavala, a philanthropist, for attempting to overthrow the government by giving money to anti-government Gezi Park protests in 2013.

Kavala is sentenced to life in prison. Associates of Kavala were also sentenced, but for 18 years in prison. Over 20 protesters were also arrested on their way to the square for May Day protests over the cost of living in Turkey as inflation passes 60%. May Day protesters are demanding monthly wage adjustments with the rising inflation rate.

PERU: Protesters near Peru’s Cuajone copper mine are demanding part of profits from the mine to support the local community, along with activists at one of the country’s other major copper mines, Las Bambas.

Roads have been blockaded for weeks as Peru’s president, Pedro Castillo, declared a state of emergency at the Cuajone mine. The two mines compose a fifth of the nation’s copper production.

AUSTRALIA: Activists are demanding Australia increase its intake of refugees and provide better, fairer protection for those on temporary visas prompted by the release or transfer of detainees in the Melbourne Park Hotel detention center. Protests and marches occurred over the country and some clashed with police in an attempt to prevent twelve refugees from being deported to Christmas Island.

34 May 2022

RUSSIA: The Feminist Anti-War resistance in Russia protested the war in Ukraine by placing crosses in Russian cities to remember the civilian deaths, wearing anti-war symbols and even offering mental health support to anti-war activists. They are creating art that imitates the style of government posters, but advocates for an end to the war. Many have been arrested peacefully protesting in public as media censorship cracks down on the free press.

SIERRA LEONE: Teachers in the Teacher Solidarity Movement protested in April over the arrest of the TSM’s interim chair for giving a speech about unfair treatment of teachers. They called for a “living wage” and better working conditions. Two other leaders of the TSM have been arrested and the Sierra Leone Bar Association has released a statement condemning the “arbitrary” detainment.

MYANMAR: After a coup last year, a military dictatorship has partially shut off the internet to Myanmar’s citizenry in an attempt to censor online protests for democracy against the regime.

Politicians elected by the former democratic system were expelled from the country, and now some have coalesced into the National Unity Government, which calls for democracy in Myanmar again. Activists have also started the Blue Shirt campaign, launched in April, to show solidarity with the thousands of political prisoners being held and tortured by the dictatorship. They are wearing blue clothes in marches as well as raising awareness on social media.

Text by ASH MEHTA

Local activism roundup Some highlighted local demonstrations over the next few weeks

ABORTION RIGHTS: From 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, May 27, representatives from five of California’s leading abortion advocacy groups will speak at a virtual event. These groups are Planned Parenthood, Access Reproductive Justice, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Black Women for Wellness, and California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom.

PRO-UKRAINE, ANTI-SEXUAL ASSAULT: From 10:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 28, the Stanford Ukraine Student Association is protesting against Russian soldiers sexually assaulting Ukrainian women as a weapon of war. This protest will take place at the San Francisco ferry building and is part of a larger national effort.

ANIMAL RIGHTS: From 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 28, Direct Action Everywhere is holding a 3.1 mile race to protest animal gambling, animal racing, and animal fighting. Specifically, they’re attempting to make the practice of animal gambling illegal in Berkeley and Albany. The event will take place at 100 Gilman Street, Berkeley.

LGBTQ ASIAN AMERICAN PRIDE: From 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 4, the Queer Trans API Coalition is holding a pride event to support, spotlight, and build community for Bay Area LGBTQ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The event will take place at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

PEACE, ANTI-RACISM, ANTI-WAR: Every week for over twenty years, the San Jose Friday Night Peace Vigil has gathered against war, racism, economic injustice, and strove for peace. External groups sometimes collaborate with the vigil to advocate for specific causes. The event takes place 5-6 p.m. Fridays outside the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in San Jose.

La Toque de Cindy Cooking Camps

Baking and cooking fun for young chefs from 6-15 years old.

Visit: cindytoquecooking.com anthromagazine.org 35

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